24. King Lawrence
King Lawrence
I didn’t give anyone an apology or an explanation for cancelling the hunt.
With what they all witnessed as I carried Penelope in, they didn’t need one.
I made it clear they had one of two options.
They could stay in their rooms, or they could leave.
Either way, they were not to say anything to anyone until the palace released a statement on the events.
Simple.
Effective.
To the point.
No one argued. No one challenged my order.
The one obstacle left was the one before me. As I headed back inside her room and to her bed, I took in Penelope’s position. She hadn’t moved at all since I’d left her.
Her hands were still crossed over her abdomen. Her slightly pale face was perfectly straight, looking to the ceiling, and her black hair was neatly brushed back, just like I wanted. Straight legs weren’t bent. Her feet weren’t turned or pointed out.
Composed.
Peaceful.
“She’s stable for the moment.”
The physician’s voice had me looking over as I loomed over her unconscious body.
“Define stable.”
A pause.
“Your Majesty, I believe the bulk of the uterine lining has shed. The heavy bleeding has lessened. What follows will be more… residual. I have her on a good amount of pain medication for both ailments. If you wish for me to prolong her sickness, I can do that, or I can just keep her like this. Sleeping. Minimal pain. I figure the first dose will be completely worn off in the next few hours. She should be waking up soon, but I can delay that if you’d like. ”
I lowered back to the bed, remaining in a sitting position as I brushed back her hair.
“There’s no point in making her sick again unless we have to. I want her awake, but not enough to function or fight. Give her what you must but don’t keep her out completely.”
He nodded, walking over to the machine.
Laying on my side, I let my knuckles brush along the rise of her cheek, extending my fingers as I reached her hair. The door shut as the physician returned to my quarters.
For minutes I kept the contact light. I studied every angle of her features.
I let my mind swirl over what I knew. Penelope had been with Theodore.
She loved him. And not hours ago, my staff told me that he’d been rushed to the hospital with grievous injuries.
I should have been happy, but I was mad I had paused the contract to begin with.
I didn’t like that it fell on the same day that she lost their child.
Or that she’d been pregnant at all. This all wasn’t just a coincidence—it was dangerous.
Not that anyone would say or accuse me of anything. I still didn’t like it.
A soft cry had her lips separating, but she didn’t move.
I traced down her jaw, making a path just below the lining of her lower lip.
“Penelope, darling, I need you to hear me.”
I lowered closer, closing my eyes as I trailed my nose up towards her temple. Breathing in deeply, I let my hand flatten on the side of her face, holding her secure as I flexed my grip just the smallest amount.
Another sound left her. One, this time, a little louder.
“My physician says your stable now.”
I slid my fingers deeper into her hair, angling her head back as I lifted, hovering to look down at her lips.
How many times over the years had I fantasized about this sort of thing? There were always these moments. The calm before the storm. The good before the bad.
My breath was uneven as I licked my lips. I nearly moaned as I moved my thumb towards her mouth, separating it.
Moments passed, and Penelope’s knee drew up. She was getting more strength.
Try not to move.” I lowered her head, letting my fingers travel down her face…
to her neck… lower, towards her shoulder.
Stopping, I fingered the strap. Her body jolted and a small cry sounded.
More, I moved my touch down, tracing her arm…
her hip. When I got to her knee, I pushed her legs back closed. Straight.
I grabbed her wrist, bringing it towards my mouth to kiss. My lids went to close, but the discoloration had my eyes jerking open.
Pushing to sit, I turned her wrist, taking in the multiple scars along her forearm. Back and forth I twisted, only to see them on the top of her hands as well. My brow drew in, creasing as I lifted her other arm. It was the same. Scars. Some, more prominent than others.
Faster, my heart raced. I was so hard, I could have come on the spot.
She’d been restrained with something sharp. Probably metal cuffs. And she’d fought like hell to try to get free. She’d fought… through the excruciating pain of her skin splitting. There had to have been so much blood. So many screams.
Fear.
Yes… to have seen it in her eyes.
A moan left me as I drew her wrist to my mouth, sucking against it. I could almost taste the metallic tang of her very life as I sucked harder.
What sounded like a breathy cry left her, and lashes fluttered, but her eyes didn’t stay open.
I battled the need. Did I go back to giving her scars attention, or take something more?
I folded her hands back on her abdomen, cradling her head again as I angled her face back to me. My body was on fire as I scooted down, more to face her. I kept coming back to her lips. Back to the need to brutally kiss and claim her.
“You’re so strong. A fighter. I like to fight, too.”
I swallowed hard, closing my eyes as I eased my lips into hers.
Her body was so soft as I hugged her more in my direction.
As I broke away, my breath came out shaky.
I laid my head down, positioning her head to face me.
I couldn’t stop myself from picking up her wrist to bring between us.
I didn’t look away from her as I let myself feel over the ridges of scars.
Knocking washed away the awe and lust.
I sat up, glaring towards the adjoining door.
“What?”
Slowly, the door opened. My advisor, Dominique, stepped in. I eased off the bed, knowing if he was here, something was wrong.
“Sire, there’s been a development.”
“Speak.”
His dark eyes lowered only to come up.”
“The man—Theodore.” He paused. “He’s no longer at the hospital.”
I stood taller.
“What do you mean, he’s no longer at the hospital? The only update I should have been getting was that he was dead.”
“We were told the injuries were grave. We arrived to transport him, Your Majesty, but… he’d already been moved.”
My lids narrowed. “By whom?”
“We don’t know.”
My stare hardened.
“That is not an answer.”
“We were told it was authorized but—” He swallowed hard. “There’s no record of who gave the order.”
Rage built as silence stretched out. My mind raced.
“Find him. We are not the most surveilled country without reason. I want every road, every airfield, every fucking private transport looked into.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I turned to look at Penelope.
Someone had moved Theodore. Someone with access. Someone with authority.
What was I missing? Who would do something like that? They’d have to know it wasn’t random. They’d have to… suspect something. Suspect me?”
“Sire, there’s more.”
My head whipped back to him as anger grew.
“More?”
“Yes. You’ve received a few calls.” A long pause. “It was The Sultan, Sire. He’s been calling you. I think given the turn of events, perhaps you should return the call.”
“Do you, now?”
I stepped in, my lip peeling back with the threat. But I knew he was right. Something was happening, and if anyone could tell me, it was my handler.
“Get my phone.”
He nodded, scattering from the room, only to return in seconds. I took it, waiting for the door to shut before I turned back to Penelope. I kept my distance, but I found myself getting closer despite I shouldn’t. Ringing filled my ear and the rich, thick accent rolled through at him answering.
“You’ve been busy.”
“If you know that, why are you calling? I’m obviously in the middle of something.”
A deep chuckle sounded.
“I see that. Lovely, isn’t she?”
I wasn’t surprised by his comment. He managed to find his way into the palace’s system as well. I learned to ignore it long ago.
“Where is he? I know you know.”
“We haven’t talked in months and you’re suddenly going to start demanding things of me?” He tsked. “That’s not wise, Your Highness.”
My jaw tensed.
“I am not the prince anymore. I am king. Are you going to tell me or not? I’m going to find Theodore anyway. I have my men looking into it.”
“How na?ve you are. Always so confident. So… assured. You won’t find him if they don’t want you to.”
I paused as I took in his words. Penelope’s fingers drew in, but I managed to focus.
“They? Who are they?”
“You’ve orchestrated the narrative so long, you don’t realize that what you read or what you see isn’t always the truth.”
A growl left me.
“Stop talking in riddles and be blunt. Where’s the fucking barrister?”
More chuckling. “You make winning anything extremely hard.”
“Winning? Are you placing bets on me?”
“Always.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Oh no.” His tone deepened. “We both know that isn’t wise.”
I squeezed harder into my phone, walking around Penelope’s bed wide.
What was I missing? What… was I missing? He was a barrister. Who the hell would help him? He was a nobody. A duke, yes, but not a real duke.”
“This is what you’re going to do, Your Highness.”
“Stop saying that. You know I hate it.”
“I know.” He let long moments drag out. “Walk to the bed.”
I didn’t take my time, but I didn’t rush.
“Ok?”
“What do you see?”
My head shook. “Penelope.”
“Look closer.”
“I see her just fine,” I snapped. “She’s right there, on the bed, asleep. She’s laying here.”
“Mmhmm.” Amusement was in his tone. “Lower her top.”
My lids narrowed. “I’m not giving you a show.”
“Lower her top.”
The threat was clear. I made a sound of my own as I hooked my finger in the middle of her shirt and pulled down. I glanced at her cleavage, shaking my head.
“She has breasts. You don’t say. They’re nice size. So what? What’s your point?”
“Look. Closer.”
I positioned the phone between my shoulder and jaw, grabbing each side, pulling down. At her body swaying through the pull, I managed to catch the discoloration. I separated her cleavage, feeling the floor fall out beneath me.
No…
Right over her heart was an upside-down crown. It had been burned into her chest. It wasn’t big. Maybe the size of a coin, but it was there.
“Impossible. He’s… dead. He—”
“Is very much alive, and is very, very angry that you have his future queen in his clutches. Even angrier now that he knows you’ve killed his child.”
“No.”
“Oh, yes.”
“No.”
“Yes. You’re lucky his own people have him restrained behind bars. Otherwise… you’d be a dead man. You still may be before it’s over with. But I have a plan, and if you want this duchess as your queen, you’re going to follow it. Do you hear me?”
“This is treason against the Crown. I’m not giving her back to him. I will not—”
“You will, and you are. Because what you’ve done will be the fall of you.
He has proof of your physician poisoning The Duchess.
He has proof of you killing his Reeve on his plane.
” A deep breath left him, and I felt sweat began to collect as I paced and stared at Penelope.
“That is enough to sentence you to death by this Council, Your Majesty.
But I have pull, so I have saved your life. But at the cost that you listen to me.
“The Unavowed has a force building behind him at a speed in which even I may not be able to stop. We won’t know until we let this play out. But one thing is for sure… Vaughn Masterson will enter society to claim his queen, and if you want her for your own, you will do the same.”
“The two of you will face off, and you will stay civil. Vaughn’s handler has already assured me that he will convince Vaughn to spare your life in return of his queen—”
“My queen.”
“Not yet. But it can be.”
He got quiet.
“Are you ready to listen… or should I have them set Vaughn free? The call is yours. What’s it going to be?” He waited. “Life… or Death?”
I reached down, tracing the upside-down crown. Hate built only for it to melt as an idea came to me.
I stood up straight, already heading to my room.
“He’ll get Penelope back, but only after I leave my own mark.
You tell him I said I look forward to seeing him back in society.
” My voice deepened as the anger grew. “As a matter of fact, I’ll welcome him in, myself.
He will come to my party, or I come after him with everything I have. You tell him to be there… or else.”